Chapter 35
Deacon
“Ihave never been so happy to see a set of financial statements in my life.” Richard rubbed the back of his neck before leaning forward. “Tell me this is the last draft.”
“Maybe,” I said. “I need to look at the income numbers for May and June. Something seems off to me.”
Richard groaned, and I grinned at him. “Since it’s Friday and quitting time, I’ll be nice and ask Riley to stay late to pull the reports for me.”
“I appreciate that, but I can do it,” Richard said. “I think Riley has a second job she goes to right after this one. I overheard her and Amanda talking earlier this week. She works every night and the weekends, too. I don’t know how she does it. I’d be a damn zombie.”
Apparently, I didn’t look as sick to my stomach as I felt because instead of asking me if I was about to vomit, Richard stood and said, “I need to finish up something, and then I’ll pull the numbers for May and June and email them to you. Shouldn’t be more than half an hour.”
“Sounds good. Thanks.” My voice was faint, and Richard paused.
“You okay?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Thanks for staying late.”
Richard left my office, and I stared at my shaking hands. Riley was with someone else. She was on her knees and being another man’s good girl every night and every weekend. Nausea permeated my entire body, and for a moment, I was sure I really would throw up.
There was a knock on my door, and I croaked out a ‘come in.’ If it was Riley, I didn’t know what the fuck I would do.
Yell, maybe. Or cry.
Lina stepped into my office and shut the door. She walked toward my desk, smiling cheerfully. “Hey, Deacon, I know you’re busy, but… whoa, are you okay?”
“Fine,” I said, sucking in a deep breath.
“You look like you’re about to throw up on my shoes.” Lina stepped back as if she thought I really might barf on her.
“I’m fine,” I repeated.
“I’m not sure I believe you,” she said.
I forced a smile on my face. “How about now?”
She laughed. “Oh God, don’t take this the wrong way, but that’s the smile of a lunatic.”
I sat back in my chair. “I might be having a day.”
She sat down in the chair across from my desk. “Because of Riley?”
“No,” I said quickly. “So, what’s up? It’s not like you to be at the office two days in a row. Is something wrong? Are Noah and Chloe okay?”
“They’re good,” Lina said. “They’re with their dad in his office. My sister Kate and her husband are in town and we’re meeting them at a restaurant close to the office in about half an hour.”
“Oh,” I said.
We sat silently for a few seconds before I said, “Why do you think my bad day is because of Riley?”
“Because I saw how you looked at each other yesterday and felt that tension between you,” Lina said.
“There’s no tension,” I lied.
“Bullshit,” she said cheerfully. “Trust me, buddy, I know better than anyone when there’s sexual tension between a boss and an assistant. There isn’t a rule against office dating, but don’t do something that makes her quit, okay?”
I bristled. “I’m nothing but professional with Riley.”
“I’m not saying you aren’t,” Lina said. “But she’s sensitive, and something is upsetting her. I want to make sure it isn’t you.”
I didn’t reply, but Lina looked sharply at me. “Have you upset her?”
“Don’t take this the wrong way,” I said, “but it’s none of your business.”
I waited for her to get pissed, but Linda just shrugged. “That’s true. But Riley is a good person and a great assistant, and she especially needs money right now, so I don’t want her to quit a job she loves that pays well because of a crush on her boss.”
Still defensive and angry, I asked, “Why should we be concerned with her financial situation or what she spends her money on?”
Lina frowned at me. “Because we’re not assholes? It’s not her fault her mother has cancer.”
I stared dumbfounded at Lina. “Riley’s mother has cancer?”
“Shit,” Lina said. “I shouldn’t have told you that. Fuck, I am running on way too little sleep to have normal adult conversations.”
“What does Riley’s mother having cancer have to do with her finances?” I asked.
Lina sighed. “Riley is helping pay for her mother’s chemo. Hey, don’t mention I told you this, okay? I don’t think Riley even meant to tell me, but it slipped out when she was upset and… ugh.” Lina rolled her eyes. “Mom brain is a thing. Don’t let anyone tell you it isn’t.”
I stared in stunned silence at Lina. I couldn’t process anything beyond how much of a fucking asshole I was.
“You okay?” Lina asked.
“I’m an asshole,” I said.
“I suppose we all can be at some point,” she said. “It’s what we do after we’ve been an asshole that counts.”
She stood and walked to the door, pausing before she opened it. “Riley’s a lovely person with a forgiving nature. Even to assholes. Have a good weekend, Deacon.”
She left, and I waited about forty-five seconds before jumping up and sprinting across my office. I tore open the door and stared at Riley’s desk. It was empty, and I muttered a curse before checking my watch. It was after five, and she was gone, left to be someone else’s good girl because I was a heartless shithead to her.
Fuck!
I stomped back into my office and stared at my desk.
Think, asshole.
My heart thudding and thumping, I grabbed my phone and called Celeste. The phone rang in my ear, and I paced the room. “C’mon, Celeste. Pick up the goddamn phone.”
“Deacon, hello, darling. How are you?” Celeste’s cigarette-roughened voice was fucking music to my ears.
“Celeste, I need to book Ri - Charlotte for tonight and the entire weekend.”
“Charlotte isn’t -”
“I know she has other clients now but tell her I’ll pay double her fee for the entire weekend,” I said. “Message her right now, Celeste.”
“Deacon, take a breath,” Celeste said sharply.
“I need you to message her,” I said.
“Darling, I can’t. Charlotte is no longer an employee at the agency.”
I stopped pacing, dropping onto the small leather couch with a grunt. “What?”
“She quit, darling. Right after you cancelled your last booking with her.”
“She quit,” I repeated.
“Yes,” Celeste said. “It was quite a shame, really. We’d hoped under your tutelage, she’d blossom and become a favourite among our other clients.”
“She hasn’t taken any contracts for anyone in the last two weeks?” I said.
Celeste made a huffing sound. “Darling, have you been hit on the head? I’ve told you twice now that she’s quit the agency. Obviously, she hasn’t taken any contracts. We do, however, have a lovely new girl. Her name is Penny, and I think you and she would get along marvelously. She’s a bit shy but eager to learn.”
“No, thank you,” I said. “I have to go, Celeste.”
I ended the call and shoved my phone into my pocket. What the fuck was going on? Completely confused, I grabbed my coffee cup and headed toward the kitchen. Was Riley working for another agency? If so, why? I needed to call her, but what if she was with someone right now? What if she was on her knees and -
The door to the ladies’ room swung open, and Riley stepped into the hallway. I stumbled to a stop, staring at the cheap polyester white shirt and black pants she wore before my gaze dropped to the hat in her hand. The front of the hat had the words “Lobster Shack,” but I couldn’t stop staring at the obscenely large plush lobster glued to the top of the hat.
She stared wide-eyed at me as I said, “Is that a lobster?”
Blushing furiously, she shoved the hat behind her back and pushed past me. “Excuse me, please.”
“Riley, wait.”
“I can’t,” she said. “I’ll be late if I don’t leave right now.”
She took off down the hallway, and I strode after her, “Riley, I -”
“Deacon?” Cara came out of her cubicle, looking sick to her stomach. “Deacon, I think I fucked up.”
I watched in frustration as Riley left before taking a deep breath and turning to Cara. “What’s wrong?”
* * *
“Welcome to the Lobster Shack!”
The woman who greeted me was very short and very chipper.
I gave her a distracted smile as I studied the restaurant. It was a family-style restaurant, and at seven-thirty on a Friday night, it was filled to the brim with people. The cheesiness of the place rivaled my favourite Italian restaurant. I stared at the neon sign glowing brightly on the wall before taking in the giant fishing nets strung across the ceiling, the anchors fixed to the walls, and the shelf of stuffed plush lobsters, the replica of the plush lobster bobbing and weaving on the headband holding back the hostess’ blonde hair.
“Sir?” Her voice went even chirpier. “How can I help you?”
“I’m looking for someone.”
“Of course. What’s the last name of your party?” She held a tablet in her hand and stared expectantly at me.
“Oh, um, actually, it’s one of your servers. Riley.”
“Right,” she said. “Are you a friend of Riley’s?”
“Yes,” I said.
“Was she expecting you this evening because her section is already full.” She pointed to the far side of the restaurant. I stared at Riley standing with a group of servers, all wearing matching lobster hats, as they gathered in front of a table.
I watched in disbelief as Riley plunked a lobster hat on the head of a giggling child. She and the other servers slid oversized red felt lobster claws onto their hands. They waved them in unison as they started singing Happy Birthday, and another server carried out a birthday cake.
“There’s a half-hour wait to sit in Riley’s section, or I can seat you in another section in about five minutes,” the hostess said.
I didn’t reply, still staring stunned at Riley. As if she felt my look, her gaze turned my way, and I watched her face go as red as the lobster claws covering her hands. She stopped singing and stared wide-eyed at me for nearly ten seconds before the server beside her nudged her hard in the side. Riley plastered a smile on her face, turned away, and started singing again.
“Sir?” the hostess said, her voice decidedly less chirpy.
“Oh, uh, that’s okay,” I said. “I’ve changed my mind. I’ll talk to Riley later.”
I left the restaurant, sucking in a deep breath of the cold air. Riley wasn’t working at an agency. She wasn’t being someone else’s good girl. She was a server at the goddamn Lobster Shack.